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May 10, 2009

G32: Red Sox 4, Rays 3

Jonathan Papelbon got himself into a bit of a jam in the top of the ninth, walking Akinori Iwamura, committing an error on a pick-off attempt and allowing a single to shallow center to Jason Bartlett.

Bot struck out pinch-hitter Carlos Pena (cbbbs) and Bartlett stole second on strike three without a throw. Second and third, one out, one-run lead. Papelbon (sfb) fanned B.J. Upton on an inside fastball at 95, then he got Carl Crawford (bsbs) swinging at a 97 mph heater.

David Ortiz got the game-winning rally going in the eighth when he doubled off the left field wall off Brian Shouse. Dan Wheeler came in and gave up a double to Jason Bay (who doubled and scored Boston's first run in the second). The two fourth inning runs were on doubles by Jeff Bailey and Jason Varitek (and a fielding error on a popup by Iwamura). Five of Boston's seven hits were doubles.

Dustin Pedroia left the game in the fourth inning with a strained groin, something that has been bothering him for about a week.

The Red Sox flew to Anaheim after the game. A six-game road trip against the Angels and Mariners starts Tuesday night.

When he's on, he's throwing a 97 mile-an-hour two-seamer, which is tough on everyone -- lefties and righties, it really doesn't matter. When he's throwing his breaking ball for strikes, whether it be his slider or his curveball, he's tough. ... You just hope you maybe catch him on an off day.

In two starts so far this season, Boston is batting .102 against Garza. Only Jacoby Ellsbury (.421) has a career batting average above .200 (stats).

Kevin Youkilis will make it an even week on the bench by sitting out tonight, and using the off-day Monday to get ready to return on Tuesday in Anaheim. He also doesn't mind if Jason Bay takes his #4 spot in the order:

If he's going to hit the way he is, he can stay there. I'll hit anywhere in the lineup except for leadoff. I don't mind. I'll hit sixth, I don't mind. I've hit there before. I don't think it bothers any of these guys here. It's such a good lineup. I'll hit sixth, seventh -- I don't care. It's actually better to hit sixth or seventh, you get more RBIs [in this lineup].

Daisuke Matsuzaka makes his second rehab start for Pawtucket today, in Columbus, Ohio. ... Baldelli's home run on Saturday was only the second dong hit by a Rhode Island native as a member of the Red Sox; Lefty LeFebvre homered in his first major league plate appearance on June 10, 1938.

This is why you can never trust the O's: Third inning: First guy singles. Next two guys walk. Next guy ends the inning.

On the first walk, Adam Jones had been going from first, and overslid the bag, with Jeter tagging him out. The O's announcers then inform us that Jones "hasn't learned how to slide into second yet." After the next guy walked, an inning-ending DP. They lead 3-1, for now.

"Sounds to me like the Living Turd doesn't get warm enough to start games. He seems to settle in nicely after giving up runs in the first."

He didn't really settle down today as much as pitching in and out of jams--like the one I described in the third. The O's should've had a lot more runs today. It took till just now, but they finally blew the lead in the 7th. Damon 3-run HR makes it 5-3 Yanks.

The two out "rally": Cervelli with an infield single to second, Jeter with a slow roller to third for another cheap single, and Damon homers. 7th inning.

I won't be threading until late if at all. Bruins are in a do-or-die Game 5 and they get the big TV. I'll be summoning memories of Red Sox years past coming back from down so far. Thinking of chanting "mojo risin!" a few times. Such a great season until they ran into the Carolina Hurricanes. Enjoy the Sox, everyone! I'll be watching them as well.

Lawns - the real kind, in front of the house - are an insane North American obsession. Much has been written on why this might be.

Huge waste of water and space.I can deal with the space issue- there's too much of it in the US anyway. Wasting water is a problem, especially with dwindling fresh water supplies world-wide, but hey, it's a wasteful society, so it's not surprising. What I really can't stand is the noise. There's never a minute of quiet in the suburbs with those motherfucking mowers.

"I can deal with the space issue- there's too much of it in the US anyway. Wasting water is a problem, especially with dwindling fresh water supplies world-wide, but hey, it's a wasteful society, so it's not surprising. What I really can't stand is the noise. There's never a minute of quiet in the suburbs with those motherfucking mowers."

I didn't know it was a Problem For Ofer problem. I thought it was a Problem problem.

The water and space are very real issues. Out in AZ and SoCal, bright green lawns and golf courses in the middle of a desert are obscene. And all that space is sprawl, another major environmental problem.

I didn't know it was a Problem For Ofer problem. I thought it was a Problem problem.

The water and space are very real issues. Out in AZ and SoCal, bright green lawns and golf courses in the middle of a desert are obscene. And all that space is sprawl, another major environmental problem.

The noise on your ears... well...I didn't mean to sound so egotistical. It was more of a knee jerk complaint than a mapping of world problems, but you're right.

There was no doubt in my mind Morgan's estimate would be way off on how much Bailey missed a double by. Sure enough, he says it misses by "8 to 10 feet." It was about a foot. Gotta assume he meant inches. Wait, no I don't.

oh, I'm all for the cheering. it's the booing for your players that annoys me and it's that they flip on a dime. They'll be booing him soon enough, I'm sure (though I hope he doesn't give 'em even a vague excuse).